Ore reduction



J. E. LEONARZ ORE REDUCTION Filed Sept. 17 1921 July 20, 1926.

Patented July 20, 1926.

. 1,592,862 PATENT OFFICE.

v J'bI-IANN E. LEONARZ,OF TAOUBAYA, MEXICO.

ORE REDUCTION.

Application filed September 17, 1821. Serial No. 501,385.

Distinct advantages in economical production of materials such as iron,manganese, and the like. can be carried out by a step by step treatmentof the ore whereby the same is partially reduced prior to the introdnction of carbonaceous material and the ultimate reduction to metallicform. By separatin the two reducing" steps and controlling tie supply ofreducing gases, it is found that the reactions are carried out with aminimum of added heating and with substantial conservation of thereagents required in the process. My invention relates to a processwhereby the above advantages are obtained.

It is a further object of my invention specifically to obtain thereduction to metallic form of those ores which in ordinary processes areconsidered to'be refractory or to resist the customary metallurgicalprocess. I

In carrying out my process the reducing gases are regenerated betweeneach reducing step. Furthermore, the reducing gases are maintainedpracticall free from objectionable gases articular y nitrogen. It isalso intended tiat these gases shall be maintained in a circuit withoutsubstantial loss in temperature.

The above and other purposes of my'invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and drawing.

The drawing illustrates in-sectional elevation a preferred mode ofcarrying .out my process. m N

A metallur ical furnace in which the ore 5 reduced is shown to include areducing kiln 1 of any suitable type from which the material afterpartial reduction is delivered to the bin 2.

Another bin 3 supplies carbonaceous fuel and such'other material as maybe found desirable.

A conveyor 4 delivers the parti duced material from bin 2 to the retort5. Carbon from bin 3 is delivered directlyfto retort 5 or after mixturewith the' metallic oxide being conveyed .by' the conveyer 4. Asupplemental conveyer 4 is rovided' for delivering carbon or liquid uelto one chamber-of the retort 5*:tor pur-. poses hereinafter'to bedescribed. Retort 5 has an outer wall 6 resting on foundation 7 andproviding'an archway or opening 8 at its base.

An inner wall 9 is similarly mounted upon the base 7 and cut away toform the arch 10. The retort 5 has a top wall 11. Mounted on foundation7 and extending upwardly in the retort 5 is a partition 12, alsoprovided with an arched opening 13 at its-base. The partition 12 extendsupwardly to within a short distance of the top wall 11 and is spacednear the inner wallv 9. This pro vides a vertical channel at the side ofthe material inthemain portion of retort 5'.

The side wall 9 serves as one side of the tower 14 having opposite outerwall 15 and a top 16 which is prolonged to form an opening 17. Thisopening 17 forms a close bearing with the kiln 1. A charging device 18,

of customary form, is providedin the top 16 in order to replenish thematerials in the molten bath at the base of the tower.

A heating furnace 19 is provided at one side of the retort 5. A gasinlet 20 is shown to pass through this heating chamber and under theadjacent wall 6. A lip 21 extends transversely'of the wall 6 andopposite the end of the inlet 20. By this means gas is passed into theretort 5. It will be evident that the inlet pipe 20 may be placed in anyconvenient position and need not pass through the heating furnace.

The heating chamber, the retort 5 and the tower 14 are all su portedupon a foundation 22 in which a s 0 ing bottom 23 for the ,molten bathis provi ed.

The ore after customary heating anda lower order than that in which itis naturally found. The degree to which the reduction is carried out inthis step is dependent upon the nature of the metal. It is generally.found desirable to reduce the oxygen present in the ore by one-half inthis step.

The partially reduced ore falls in bin 2.

The material from bin 2 is charged into re tort, 5 together with carbonfrom bin '3. During the charging operation thesematerials may beintimately blended. The retort 5- normally carries aconsiderable body ofthese materials undergoing complete reduction of the metal. The oxygenof the lower metallicoxides present in retort .5

will combine with the carbon and prolatter. During the upward travel ofthese 1 gases they materially aid in accomplishing directly thereduction of the metal and hasten the carrying off of thegaseous'products of the reaction. a

The gaseous products of the second step in reduction pass downwardlybetween wall 9 and partition 12. Supplemental pipe 4' delivers carbon orhydrocarbon fuel to this chamber and there is thus maintained a quantityof carbon on the surface of the molten metal at the base ofthis'channel. The gases coming in contact with the carbon are forced topass through the molten metal and escape through the tower 14.

The tower 14 is filled with highly heated coke which is maintainedincandescent by contact with the hot metal and radiation therefrom. Thegases passing down the channel and upwardly through the tower 14 arefurther reduced to carbon monoxide and hydrogen. From the tower 14 thegases pass to the kiln 1 where they enter into reucing reaction uponfresh charges'of ore. Means to withdraw thespent gases from the kiln 1and to return a portion of the same to the second phase of reduction areshown to include a return pipe 23 and a steam injector 24.

While I have shown the heat to be applied to the bath and chambers froman external source, it is obvious that heat may be applied to' theretort 5 and tower 14, as for example by any suitable means of localizedelectric heating.

Various changes in minor details may be made without departing from thespirit of my invention as'the same is defined in the following claims.

What I claim is V 1. The process of obtaining metal from with reducinggastoparitally reduce the ore, introducing the partially reduced oreandcarbon into a'reaction chamber over a bath of the liquid metalpassing the gas from said reaction chamber through the molten metal andthrough highly heated coke,'then passing it through the initial reducingchamber, and returning a portion of the gas to the reaction chamber.

' ,2. Theprocess of obtaining metal from ore which consists in treatingthe heated ore with reducing gas to partially reduce. the ore,introducing the partially reduced ore and carbon into a reaction chamber'over a bath ofthe liquid metal, adding carbon or liquid fuel to the gasfrom the reaction chamber. passing this mixture through the molten metaland through highly heated coke. then passing it through the initialreducing chamber, and returning a portion of the gas to the reactionchamber.

3. The processof obtaining metal from ore which consists in partiallyreducing the ore, introducing the partially reduced ore and carbon intoa reaction chamber over a batlr'of the liquid metal, forcing the gasesfrom said reaction chamber to pass downwardly through the body ofmolten. metal and to pass therefrom through a mass ofheated carbonwhereby the gas is regenerated for use in the first reducing step.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature. 1 V

' I JOHANN- E. LEONARZ.

.ore which consists in treating the heated ore

